That the production wing of global energy corporation, Shell, has a presence in the west of Ireland is now well known. Shell have been joined by another of their kind; Exxon Mobil, sometimes known as Esso. It's a company which, like Shell, has left a long dark oil slick like trail of controversy and notoriety across the globe. Exxon Mobil are in alliance with Sir Anthony O’Reilly, Ireland’s most influential businessman

In March of this year, Exxon Mobil was awarded licenses for exploratory drilling in the Porcupine Basin, which is in the Atlantic roughly parallel with Clare and Kerry. For the exploratory bid Exxon Mobil combined in a consortium with Providence Resources, and Scottish firm Sosina Exploration.This isn’t the first joint venture involving these companies. In February 2006 they announced a program to develop the Dunquin prospects, which are finds of oil and gas, also in the Porcupine Basin. These finds alone are potentially worth 20 billion euro. Providence Resources are also engaged in exploration off the south east coast.

This morning at 10am, 15 Shell to Sea activists entered the water at Glengad Beach to stop Shell pipeline excavation work. Dinghies, surfers and swimmers surrounded the machine and stopped the work by their presence in the water.

3 members of the Garda water unit then began picking people out of the boats and the water and bringing the protestors into the Shell compound where other Gardaí conveyed them then to Belmullet Garda station. Gardaí were questioned by activists, asked to identify themselves, and give reasons why they were pulling people from the water. Gardaí were questioned as to what authority they had to give directions or use force against protesters in the water. They refused to account for themselves. “Public Order Act” shouted one very aggressive Garda.

Related Links: Shell to Sea Coverage on Indymedia.ie | Glengad, Mayo - July 29th | Shell & Gardaí Force Community from Glengad Beach

On Saturday 16th August at 3pm the Coolagad river burst its banks in Delgany Co. Wicklow. A culvert under the R761 collapsed and forced a road closure and millions of gallons of water to flow into Killincarrig village. What happened next can only be described as gross negligence by Wicklow County Council and it's Fire Service. Approxamitely 20 residents started to look for assistance from the various state agencies but were ignored. WCC had no emergency numbers in place, had no crews working on the ground, had no sandbags filled and would not allow its Fire Service to be dispatched.

Wicklow is the only County in Ireland that refuses to dispatch Fire Brigades to floods. In light of the recent history of this service and its problems in Bray you would think that the powers that be would put their budgetary problems aside and assist the taxpayers that fund this service. Dublin Fire Brigade provides a call-out service to Wicklow Fire Service from Tara St. in Dublin.

The operators of this service informed our residents that they received 250 calls from Wicklow Residents to deal with flooding. They were unable to dispatch any Wicklow based brigades because of restrictions imposed by the Chief Fire Officer of Co. Wicklow. They were also unable to give an emergency number for WCC.

Related Links: Climate Change will flood Limerick | Ramor Ryan gatecrashes the ineffectual UN Conference on Climate Change | Daily Video Reports From Camp For Climate Action | Creative Commons Images of Flooding In Ireland

Today (Saturday) at noon a flotilla of sea kayaks reclaimed Glengad beach, Pollathomas, Co Mayo; the landfall site for Shell’s offshore pipeline.

Members of the ‘Great Rebel Raft Regatta’ recently deployed at the E.ON coal fired power station at Kingsnorth in Kent, England, have made their way from Climate Camp UK to Erris, in order to assist Shell to Sea campaigners in their opposition to this pipeline construction at Glengad.

The first wave of the Rebel Regatta arrived today following Marine & Public Information Notices which announced the arrival of the world’s largest pipe-laying vessel, the Solitaire, in Broadhaven Bay, any time from today onwards.

Captain Ahab of the Rebel Crew states, “It’s unacceptable what Shell are being allowed to get away with here in Mayo. We intend to plunder Shell’s compound at Glengad and board the Solitaire when she arrives in the bay. We take no prisoners. It’s the gang-plank for these boys. This environment needs protection from these marauders of Shell’s.”

Brian Guckian, a researcher into sustainable development and transport in Ireland, lays out the case against the proposed Cork to Limerick (M20) Motorway.

Mr Guckian claims that the scheme is not supported by traffic counts, that it breaches EU Law and government environmental policies, and that councils could face fines and funding penalties if it goes ahead.

Related Links: M20 on Wikipedia | M20 on Politics.ie